27/08/2023
π MT 387- BATONG AMAT
Mt. 387, also known as Batong Amat, has become famous in the mountaineering society due to its proximity to Metro Manila. It also is beginner-friendly (or so I thought).
Its popular name among hiking enthusiasts is Mt. 387 since the area of this reserve spans for about 387 hectares.
Since it was a Holyday Season, we were the only hikers when we reached the registration area. We actually see other climbers on the day of our visit considering this mountain is a mainstream hiking destination.
This is definitely one of the most sought time of the day by a hiker whenever heβs scaling a mountain. The golden hour. Everything glows as the sunrays hit the contours of the landscape.
We took a breather at this spot where we planted our seedlings bought from the registration area. We continued our trek and I immediately saw this expanse of brown hills on our left side. We rested by this shade to take some photos and munch on our snacks while savoring this awesome view.
There was no one else aside from us so itβs best to take advantage of this opportunity. After all, I always see hiking events being organized here every weekend. By the right side of the trail is this mountain range which is also a great backdrop for our photos.
A few more meters across is this scenery of fields and mountains. We continued walking towards the summit. It was still early and we got lots of time to enjoy the spectacle along the way.
The famous βLoversβ Treeβ is waving from afar against the beautiful view of the hills. We moved closer to the best part of our hike. I finally saw these picturesque hills in the flesh. We took advantage of this moment and took a lot of photos since there was no one around aside from us. The brown rolling hills proved to be a great sight from Loversβ Tree. It would have been a nice experience if we camped out and spent the night here. I already listed Mt. 387 as one of the places I would revisit for sure. The lighting condition was also perfect for us to achieve shots like this.
After getting enough rest (we were not really exhausted yet since the hike to the summit was relatively short and easy), it was finally time to bid goodbye to Loversβ Tree and continue our journey. We continued walking and I noticed that the trail was pretty much straightforward, easy and flat (again, or so I thought).
Traversing this mountain to Aloha Falls in the middle of the day when the temperature is at its hottest was something I wouldnβt do again. The trail for doing the traverse was absolutely a challenging one, even for experienced mountaineers like us. The descent was too steep and there was nothing we could hold on to except the sharp blades of grass. Thank the gods I got my gloves with me. My bad for not being able to take any photos of the trail. We were so preoccupied with keeping our footing firm as we descend.
It was past lunch time when we reached the jump-off. Our cooked meals which we ordered in advance were already waiting for our hungry bellies.
Tips/Reminders:
β‘οΈ Mt. 387 is also known as Batong Amat.
β‘οΈ The hike to the summit takes about 1.5 β 2 hours depending on your pace. It will take another 2 β 3 hours to traverse this mountain to reach Aloha Falls.
β‘οΈ Doing the backtrail is advisable for beginners but traversing Mt. 387 to get to the falls is not recommended for first-timers.
β‘οΈ Bring enough hydration since most of the trail is exposed to the sun. The only water source could be found near Aloha Falls.
β‘οΈAlways check the weather first before scaling Batong Amat. Expect rain during monsoon season (June-February).
Contact Sir Roy Manuzon in advance if you will be hiking Mt. 387 so he could arrange the guide/s for you.
Contact:
Sir Roy Manuzon (09175712152)
How to get to Mt. 387, Nueva Ecija:
βΊ Ride a bus from Metro Manila bound for Tuguegarao, Cagayan (e.g. Florida Bus in Sampaloc, Victory Liner in Kamias or Five Star Bus in Cubao).
βΊ Alight at Iglesia ni Kristo in Barangay Puncan, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija which serves as the jump-off (travel time: 4 β 5 hours depending on traffic condition and number of stop-overs).
βΊ Alternatively, you can ride a bus bound for San Jose City, Nueva Ecija (e.g. Baliwag Transit in Cubao or Caloocan) then hire a tricycle that will take you to Barangay Puncan.
βΊ Register and secure/guides.
Email : [email protected]
page: John Raymond Travel Blog